We’ve officially launched Map Maker. Map Maker is a wizard tool that lets you create your own custom maps, while leveraging location content from great content sources from around the web like Yelp, CityGrid, Wikipedia, Twitter, Instagram, and many others. Thanks to those that have been helping test.

“Aligning itself with today’s most advanced technology, The Active Times has partnered with Gathering Point, a leading provider of hyper-local mapping, to give active consumers a go-to source for nearby adventure. Geo-aware maps allow for users to pinpoint fitness centers, biking routes, hiking trails, and outdoor sporting events taking place in their region.”

We’re happy to welcome Ticket Network into the GatheringPoint map world. Ticket Network taps into ticket exchanges to help you find the ticket you want for the event you want. Because they are a ticket exchange, people can often find tickets for shows even if they are sold out at the box office.

Ticket Network is a great addition to our content family. We’re excited that people can look for shows and events near where they are, and use Ticket Network to help get those tough to obtain tickets.

GatheringPoint presents events from Ticket Network, Brown Paper Tickets, EventBrite, MeetUp, and ConferenceHound. There is always something to do just down the block – whether you’re at home, or visiting a new place.

We’re happy to announce that GatheringPoint partners now have the ability to easily create their own custom content layers and edit them on the fly. They setup a Google Docs Spreadsheet with columns such as latitude, longitude, title, popup window content, and map pin selection. Non-technical people can edit the spreadsheet and see changes on the map on their website or mobile app.

As always, partners embed a GPoint powered map widget by adding an iframe. They set map location and zoom level, as well as which of the dozens of available content layers that will be displayed by default when the map loads. Some partners also use a geo enabled rss feed for custom layers generated from the content of their site.

We’re excited to have added some great new content partners to GatheringPoint. Check them out under the “Events” category (except that Instagram is in Social). See the pictures your Instagram friends have taken… all mapped out by location!

We’ve had requests to put together a parenting related set of content, and would love to get your recommendations for content categories and sources.

Some ideas already in the mix are meetups, good diaper changing and breast feeding friendly locations (everywhere should be an OK breast feeding location!), PTA locations, mothers clubs, and bathrooms!

What online parenting resources do you use? What would YOU like to see on a local community map?